RAWALPINDI:
The District Health Authority (DHA) Rawalpindi has announced that cervical cancer will be included as the thirteenth disease in the national immunisation programme, which currently targets 12 of the most life-threatening childhood illnesses. Beginning in February next year, HPV vaccination will be administered exclusively to nine-year-old girls as part of a year-round expanded campaign.
According to officials, the HPV vaccination drive held from September 15 to 27 this year targeted girls aged nine to 14 and achieved 94 per cent of the set target.
From February 2026 onwards, the vaccination will focus solely on nine-year-old girls. Cervical cancer has now been added to the existing list of targeted diseases, which includes tuberculosis, diphtheria, measles, pertussis, tetanus, polio, pneumonia, diarrhoea, typhoid, hepatitis B and TB.
DHA CEO Dr Ehsan Ghani told The Express Tribune that the expanded campaign covering 13 diseases, including cervical cancer, will commence in February 2026 and continue throughout the year. He said the decision to administer the HPV vaccine at the age of nine aims to provide early and lasting protection.
Dr Ghani emphasised that cervical cancer remains one of the deadliest diseases affecting women globally, with a high mortality rate.
